williams



Patented Feb. 2|, I899. D. S. WILLIAMS.

GRAPHOPHONE.

(Application filed Nov. 1 3, 1897. x

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

INVENT OR WITNESSES:

No. 6|9,9I6. Patented Feb. 2|, I899.

n. s. WILLIAMS.

GRAPHOPHONE.

(Application filed Nov. 13, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES:

THE Nonms PETERS co. FHOTO-L|TNO.. WASHINGTON. u. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID S. WILLIAMS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELFAND JOSEPH A. VINCENT, OF SAME PLACE.

GRAPHOPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,916, dated February21, 1899.

Application filed November 13, 1897- Serial No- 658,468. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID S. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SoundRecording and Reproducing Machines; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to a simple and inex pensive machine for recordingand reproducing the sounds of the human voice, musical instruments, &c.,and contemplates a device having a disk coated with a layer of wax uponwhich is engraved by the stylus a helical groove of even depthcontaining sinuosities constituting sound-waves recorded in accordancewith the sounds imparted to the soundbox and stylus as the same isautomatically propelled across the face of the disk.

The chief features of myinvention are,first, the feeding mechanism forpositively conveying the sound-box and stylus across the record-disk,raising the stylus from the record at the end of its travel, andconveying the sound-box and stylus back to its initial position at theidentical point at which it started; second, in the construction andarrangement of the sound-box and stylus, and, third, in minor details ofconstruction, which will be more fully treated of hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thespecification, Figure 1 represents'a plan view of a machine embodyingthe principle of my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of themachine. Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the feeding-cam detached from themachine. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the feeding-cam shown inFig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of a modified feeding-cam similarto that shown in Fig. 3. Fig; 6 shows a vertical section of said cam onthe line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 indicates a horizontal section of themachine on a line 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 represents a vertical section ofthe machine on a line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows a detached sectionalview of aportion of the feeding cam and roller constituting a portion ofthe feeding mechanism, and Fig. 10 represents a detached sectional viewof the stop-motion for checking the motion of the machine at the end ofeach operation.

Referring to the letters of the drawings, A represents a disk, formed ofmetal, hard rub her, or any other suitable material, provided upon itsface with a coating of wax in a con dition to offer very slightresistance to the action of the stylus while recording sounds. This diskI shall hereinafter refer to as the record-disk.

The record-disk is mounted upon a table B, which rotates upon a verticalshaft B, supported in a long upright bearing B The upper end of theshaft B is threaded to receive the thumb-screw B which holds therecord-' disk firmly upon the table B, and a pin 1), projectingtherefrom, passes through a hole in the record-disk and locates therecord-disk in its proper position. Motion is imparted to the table B,carrying the record-disk, by av spring S, which is inclosed in a casingG, the lower side of which has a spur-wheel C, which engages with apinion D, mounted upon a sleeve D, which is supported upon a shaft D andupon the upper end of the sleeve D is secured a spur-whee1D whichengages a pinion E, secured to the shaft B, which carries the table B.

The spring S is wound from the center, the inner end being secured tosleeve F, to which is also secured a ratchet-wheel G, both of which aresupported upon a fixed central shaft H.

The spring S is wound by means of a lever I, which carries a spring-pawlI for the purpose of engaging the ratchet-wheel G. A second spring-pawl1 which is secured to the bed-plate of the machine, also engages theratchet-wheel G and acts as a retaining-pawl to hold the ratchet-wheelin position.

The sound-box K is provided in the usual manner with a diaphragm K, towhich is firmly secured the stylus-lever L, the same being hinged orpivoted to the sound-box by a leaf-spring Z or by any other well-knownmeans employed for this purpose. The free end of the stylus-lever isprovided with a believe that only such are used in common practice) thewearing away of the point has a tendency to vary the width of the grooveand widen the same as the operation of recording and reproducing therecord progresses, and thus tends to materially injure and shorten thelife of the record.

The sound-box K is secured to a lever M, which is preferably rigid; butwhere the machine is employed to reproduce record made upon othermachines I prefer to make the same flexible to allow for anyinequalities which may exist, said lever being pivoted at a point m tothe bracket N, which is guided upon a bar 0, secured to and supported byposts 0 and O fastened to the top of the machine. Depending from thebracket N is the bar N, provided at the lower end with a roller a, whichengages a cam P, by means of which the sound-box and stylus are fedacross the record.

The cam P, which I shall hereinafter designate as the feeding-cam, isoperated by the spring-casing, although it will readily be understoodthat the same may be driven through intermediate gearing from any partof the machine.

The feedingcam P is so constructed as to impart a uniform feed to thestylus from the beginning of its operation at a point 00 to the end ofits forward feed at a point y. At the latter point the roller is forcedup an incline, which raises the stylus from the record, and as thefeeding-cam continues to move the roller is carried over the elevation Pby the action of the spring S until it reaches the point X, where itleaves the elevated portion of the cam and brings the stylus again incontact with the record.

I have illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 a somewhat modified form offeeding-cam, by the use of which the spring S may be dispensed with, theroller n in this case being positively guided in the groove I and theraising and lowering of the stylus being effected by means of theelevation P at the bottom of the cam.

The governor Q is of the ordinary type commonly employed in soundrecording and reproducing machines, the same being driven from the tableB by means of a belt R or by a train of gearing, if desired, andregulated by a screw T, acting upon a lever T, all of which is old andwell known in machines of this character.

In order to prevent harsh and grating sounds which frequently occur inthe sound-box, I desire to provide the same with a damper U, the samecomprising a spring U, secured at one end to the sound-box and providedat the other with a rubber button a, which rests against the diaphragm.By adjusting the thumb-screw U the button may be brought to bear withgreater or less pressure upon the diaphragm and the harsh sounds by thismeans may be overcome.

. In order to automatically stop the machine after the operation ofrecording or reproducing, I provide a lever V, pivoted at a point e, oneend of said lever being adapted to an opening 4) in the spring-casing orother moving part of the machine, the other being pivoted to a pushbutton which is acted upon by a spring 8 which tends to keep the leverin engagement with the opening in the springcasing. By pressing thebutton V the lever is released and the machine free to operate.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the weight of the sound-box isintended to give sufiicient pressure to engrave the groove in the recordwhen recording in soft wax; but, if desired, an additional weight orspring may be employed to increase the pressure without in any waydeparting from the scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. A sound recording and reproducing i11- strument, comprising arecord-disk suitably supported upon a shaft, means for operating saidshaft, a sound-box provided with a stylus adapted to the record-disk, abracket carried by a stationary bar which is adapted to guide the soundbox and stylus, a cam operated from the source of power, the same beingadapted to slowly feed the stylus across the face of the record-disk tolift the stylus from the record at the end of its forward travel andreturn the stylus in an elevated position with a quick movement to itsinitial position.

2. A sound recording and reproducing i11- strument comprising arecord-disk detachably secured to a table which is rotated by a centralshaft, means for rotating said shaft, a sound-box provided with a stylusadapted to the record-disk, a bracket carried by a stationary bar forguiding the stylus and soundbox, a short lever connected to thesound-box at one end and pivoted to the bracket at the other, a rollercarried by an arm projecting from said bracket and a cam operated fromthe source of power and adapted to engage said roller and convey thesound-box and stysaid bracket, a roller carried by a depending arm ofsaid bracket, and a cam rotated from supported and rotated upon acentral shaft,

means for rotating said shaft, a sound-box provided with a diaphragmhaving centrally connected thereto a stylus-lever which is pivoted tothe sound-box, a clamp formed upon the free end of saidstylus-lever, astylus of fine wire secured in said clamp, a bracket pivotally securedto the sound-box and guided by a stationary bar, a roller carried bysaid bracket, a cam for acting upon said roller to convey the stylusforward across the face of the record-disk to elevate the stylusat theend of its forward travel and retain the stylus in an elevated positionduring its return movement, and a spring to return the stylus to itsinitial position. v

5. A sound recording and reproducing instrument, comprising arecord-disk suitably supported and rotated upon a central shaft, meansfor rotating said shaft, a sound-box provided with a diaphragm andstylus-lever, the latter being connected at one end to the diaphragm andfulcrumed to the sound-box, a clamp formed upon the free end of thestyluslever, a stylus formed of fine hard-metal wire adapted to form andtraverse the groove of the record, an adjustable damper secured to thesound-box and provided with an elastic button which rests against thediaphragm, a bracket guided upon a fixed bar and pivotally connected toa projecting arm of the soundboX, an arm projecting from said bracketand provided with a roller, a cam rotated from the source of poweradapted to engage said roller and to carry the stylus forward andbackward across the face of the recorddisk, a project'- ing ledge uponsaid cam for holding the stylus out of engagement with the record-diskduring the return movement, and a spring to keep said roller inengagement with said cam.

6. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination ofthesound-box and stylus, a rotating record, a cam adapted to feed thestylus forward across the record, to lift the stylus from the record atthe end of its forward movement and retain the same in an elevatedposition during-the backward movement, and means as a spring working inconjunction with said cam to return the stylus to its initial position.

7. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of thesound-box and diaphragm, a stylus-lever secured at one end to thediaphragm and fulcrumed to the sound-box by a leaf-spring, the samehaving formed upon the opposite end a clamp provided with an adjustablestylus-wire, a cam adapted to feed the stylus forward across therecord-disk, and being provided with a raised portion upon its face toelevate the stylus at the end of its forward movement and a springacting in'conjunction with the movement of said cam to return the styluswhile in an elevated position to the starting-point.

8. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of thesound-box and diaphragm, a stylus-lever pivoted to the sound-box andfixedly secured to the center of the diaphragm, a clamp formed upon thefree end of the stylus-lever, a hard-metal stylus preferably formed offine wire firmly held in said clamp, an adjustable damper secured at oneend to the sound-box and having an elastic button which by means of anadjusting-screw can be applied with greater or less pressure against thediaphragm, and a cam adapted to feed the stylus forward across therecord-disk, to elevate the stylus at the end of its forward travel, andto return the stylus in the elevated position back to the startingpoint.

9. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of arotating record-disk, a diaphragm and stylus adapted to said record, anda cam adapted to feed the stylus forward across the record-disk toelevate the stylus at the end of its forward travel, and to return thestylus in its elevated position back to its initial position. 10. In asound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of therecord-disk, A, suitably supported and rotated, the soundbox, K,diaphragm, K, and stylus-lever, L, the clamp, L, and stylus, Z, a cam P,operated from the source of power and adapted to convey the stylusforward and backward across the record-disk, said cam having an elevatedportion, 1?, for raising the stylus out of engagement with the recordupon its return movement.

11. In a sound recording and reproducing machine the combination of thesound=box and stylus, a rotating record-table adapted to contain arecord-disk, a central stem, provided with a thumb-screw for holding therecord in position, a pin, 19, upon the record-table adapted to a holein the record, a cam for feeding the stylus forward across the record,an elevated ledge upon said cam to lift the stylus from the record atthe end of the forward travel, and to retain the same in an elevatedposition during its backward movement, means as a spring acting inconjunction with said cam to return said stylus, and alocking device asshown to automatically secure the mechanism against turning after thecam has completed a revolution.

12. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of thetable, B, the shaft, B, the record-disk, A, adapted to said shaft, apin, 1), to locate the position of the IIO record upon the table, asound-box provided and a spring-actuated lever, V, for looking to with adiaphragm, a stylus-lever connected to the diaphragm and provided with aclamp,

the mechanism against movement.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature L, the stylus-wire, Z, a cam,P, operated from in presence of two witnesses. the source of power andadapted to convey the stylus forward and backward across therecord-disk, said cam having an elevated portion for raising the stylusout of engagement with the record upon its return movement,

DAVID S. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

WALTER O. IUsEY, THOS. K. LANCASTER.

